1. Overcrowding and Neglect
As the 19th century progressed, insane asylums became dangerously overcrowded. Originally designed for a few dozen or hundred patients, many institutions soon housed thousands. This surge overwhelmed already limited resources, resulting in patients crammed into filthy, poorly ventilated wards. Neglect became routine, as thinly stretched staff struggled to maintain even the most basic hygiene. Rampant disease and malnutrition spread rapidly in these conditions, transforming supposed places of refuge into breeding grounds for suffering. The sheer volume of inmates often made individualized care impossible, escalating the cycle of misery.
